Rotary shaver



Jan. 7, 1964 N. 1'. ANTON 3,116,551

ROTARY SHAVER Filed Sept. '7, 1960 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MCA OKJJ Z 4/1 70 @7 40! %M ATTORN YS Jan. 7, 1964 N. T. ANTON 3,116,551

' ROTARY SHAVER Filed Sept. 7, 1960 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a J3 as 4/ 0 Z3 28 53 @7 37 l 'I i i /6 72 I 12 1 5'/ I aw w k ATTO EYS United States Patent 3,116,551 ROTARY SHAVER Nicholas T. Anton, 400 Dee Road, Park Ridge, Ill. Filed Sept. 7, 1964), Ser. No. 54,533 Claims. (Cl. 3043) This invention relates generally to a rotary shaver and more particularly to a shaver having an oversized head means forming plural concentric rings and wherein a onepiece cutter assembly includes a separate cutter for each track angled with respect to the track to provide an optimum shaving action and positioned on arms which are dynamically balanced as well as arranged to provide multi-point contact with equalized pressure on the cutters.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a shaver head assembly is provided wherein a ringshaped shell mounts a dome-shaped sheet form head in which are formed a plurality of concentric circular rings. The rings are slotted radially with the slots extending out over the outside edge of each respective ring, thereby to form a comb for guiding hairs into the rings. The head has a unitary centrally disposed shaft forming a bearing means extending into the shell on which is mounted a one-piece cutter means having a plurality of cutters corresponding to the number of tracks in the head, each carried on a corresponding arm portion. The cutters are concaved to provide a hollow ground effect and an improved self-sharpening action. The cutter is rotatably driven by a flexible cushion spring drive wherein a cylindrically-shaped power take-off shaft cooperates with a helioally wound spring snugly fitting over the power takeoff shaft and having a lug engageable with the cutter for automatically coupling the motor to the shaving head.

The motor is particularly characterized by a commutator and brush-type arrangement in an interrupter motor, thereby effecting motor control with less resistance than has heretofore been possible and affording more speed and more power with economically produced parts.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a rotary shaver which has a large shaving head with plural cutting tracks, thereby etfecting more rapid shaving.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary shaver having an improved cutting head for providing a comfortable shave without pulling, tugging and irritating.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a shaving head wherein a slotted track cooperates with angled cutters for effecting a sharp, shearing-action-type of cutting.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cutter construction for a rotary shaver having a hollow ground characteristic, thereby improving continuous selfsharpening action.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a head for a rotary shaver having comb-like slots extending over the outside edge of the circular rings for guiding hair into a cutting area and capable of inducing the cutting of long hair.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide in a rotary shaver a contoured head for easy under the chin shaving.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a rotary shaver with an interrupter-type motor which is quiet and smooth running.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a commutator and brush type arrangement for an interrupter-type motor affording a long life of trouble-free operation.

A still further object of the presentinvention is to provide a cutter and head assembly wherein the cutters are permanently assembled to the head and wherein plural tracks and plural cutters establish multi-point contact with equalized pressure on the cutters.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a cutter assembly for a rotary shaver wherein the cutters and the arms supporting the cutters are dynamically balanced.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cushion spring drive for automatically coupling a motor to a shaving head of a rotary shaver.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a coupling arrangement for a shaver wherein a smooth quiet and foolproof action is established without the use of gears or other complicated parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a rotary shaver a motor of the interrupter-type and including a commutator and brush assembly which insures long motor life and which affords greater speed and more power than has been heretofore available.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment of the inventive principles herein disclosed is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a rotary shaver incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan elevational view with parts broken away showing additional details of construction of the head assembly of the rotary shaver of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged breakaway inset showing parts in cross section to illustrate additional details of construction of the head assembly;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of the integral cutter of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating in detail the structural features of one of the cutters on the cutter assembly;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view showing the components of the flexible cushion spring drive for automatically coupling the motor to the shaver head;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view of the parts in assembled operative relation; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view with parts broken away to illustrate the commutator and brush construction for the interrupter-type motor of the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

The shaver of the present invention is shown generally at 10 and comprises a body 11 forming a housing in which to contain a source of power such as an interrupter-type electric motor 12, shown in additional detail on FIGURES 6 and 8.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the body or housing 11 has a boss 13 formed thereon which is apertured as at 14. A cover plate 16 is fastened to the boss by a plurality of fasteners such as screws 17.

The boss 13 is slotted on opposite diainetrical sides as shown at 13 and extending radially outwardly of such slotted portions is a lug 19 forming a part of a continuous biasing means and constituting a detent to cooperate with a bayonet slot 20 formed on opposite diametral sides of a ring-shaped shell member 21 of the head assembly of the present invention, shown generally at 22.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the ring-shaped shell member 21 has the bayonet slot 29 formed to provide an entrance portion 23 and an upwardly inclined camming portion 24 and a seating recess 26. Thus, upon fitting the head assembly 22 over the boss 13 with the entrance portions 23 in register with the lugs 19, a simple twisting motion of the head assembly 22 will relatively move the head assembly 22 and the lugs 19 so that they ride up the camming portion 24 and are received and seated within the retaining recess 26.

Referring now more specifically to the head assembly 22, it will be noted that the ring-shaped shell 21 has formed at one edge thereof a radially inwardly directed flange 27. Underlying the flange 27 is a lip 28 extending circumferentially around a sheet form head member 29.

The structural features of the head member 29 form an important part of the shaver because the shaver embodies an exceptionally large shaving head which covers a large area and affords a faster overall shaving operation. Thus, it will be noted that the head member 29, being sheet form in character, is exceptionally thin and is given an overall dome-shaped configuration, as will be evident from inspecting the cross-sectional view of FIG- URE 7. In other words, the overall configuration of the head member 29 is that of a tapered dome or conical dome tapering gently inwardly towards a center section having a centrally disposed aperture 30. The overall angle of taper is approximately 3 to 4.

Between the center aperture 30 and the outer peripheral edge bounded by the lip 28, the head member 2; is formed with alternating tracks and recesses which are concentrically disposed. Thus, there is provided an innermost track 31, an intermediate track 32 and an outer track 33. Each of the tracks 31, 32 and 33 are circumferentially continuous.

Between the track 32 and the track 33 there is provided a circumferentially extending recess 34 and between the track 31 and the track 32 there is provided a circumferentially extending recess 36, both of the recesses being depressed below the tapered action surface conjointly provided by the tracks 31, 32 and 33.

A retainer ring 37 is pressed into the ring-shaped shell member 21 and abuts against the peripheral edge 28, thereby to clamp the head member 29 against the flange 27 and placing the head member 29 in firm assembly with the ring-shaped shell member 21.

Referring specifically to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, it will be noted that each track is apetrured. Thus, upon engaging the action surface against a hirsute area, the hairs will enter the apertures in the track and will be presented for shearing to a rotary cutter.

More specifically, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, each respective track is provided with apertures constituting radially extending slots. Since each of the slots is identical, the slots are identified by the reference numeral 33 in each of the tracks 31, 32 and 33. As will be particularly manifest from an inspection of FIGURE 3, note that each slot 38 has an end portion 39 extending radially outwardly over the outside edge of the corresponding circular ring formed by the track. The inner end of each slot 38, however, terminates as at 40 in the fiat circular ring portion of each corresponding track. Thus, the extending outside edges act as a comb to actually guide the hairs into the cutting area prescribed by the track. Furthermore, the outer wall of each corresponding recess, for example, the outer wall of the recess 34, shown in FIGURE 3, is identified at 41, is circumferentially continuous, thereby adding to the rigidification and strength of the head member 29.

The specific cutter apparatus utilized in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 4. Note that the cutter comprises a one-piece unit shown generally at 42 and comprising a center hub portion 43 having a center opening 44. Radiating outwardly from the center hub portion 43 are a plurality of arms, herein identified at 46, 47 and 48. The arms 46, 47 and 48 are integral with the hub portion 43.

Offset at approximately 90 and formed as an integral portion of each respective arm, there is provided a cutter. The cutter on the arm 4-6 is indicated at 49, while the cutter on the arm 47 is shown at 50 and the cutter on the arm 48 is identified at 51.

Each respective cutter is not only integral with a corresponding arm, but is particularly shaped, for example, by coining or some other suitable shaping operation, so that each corresponding cutter will have concaved side walls as shown at 52 on the enlarged detail of HG- URE 5. The concave shape provided by the side walls 52 gives the cutters a hollow ground characteristic so that the cutters will be particularly sharp and will pro mote a self-sharpening action during use.

Referring again to the head assembly, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, it will be noted that there is extended through the center aperture 30 of the head member 29 a center post forming a shaft 53. One end of the shaft 53 or center post is provided with a head 54 which overlies the edges of the aperture 30 and which is preferably shaped to provide a curved configuration resembling a rivet head, thereby to form the apical portion of the domed head.

The peripheral surface of the shaft 53 forms a bearing area and is received through the center opening 44 of the hub portion 43 of the cutter unit 42. A continuous biasing means such as a coil spring 56 is also received on the shaft 53 and has one end bottomed against the underside of the hub portion 43, while the opposite end of the coil spring 56 is engaged against and retained by a retainer disk 57 and which may be suitably swaged or attached to the extremity of the shaft 53.

Referrin specifically to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, it should be noted that each respective cutter 4-8, 49 and 5b is angularly offset to prescribe an angle 53 relative to each slot 38 of a corresponding track or circular ring with which the cutter is associated. Thus, the cutter forms with the slots at cutting angle at 58 just as in a pair of scissors and with the cutter angled in the manner described, an optimum shaving action is maintained. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the angle 53 amounts to approximately 20", which angle has been determined to aflord a good cutting action. As will be evident from the drawings, with the hub portion 43 positioned on the shaft 53, the cutter 49 on the arm 46 will be resiliently engaged against the track 33, while the cutter St) on the arm 47 will engage the track 32 and the cutter 51 on the arm 48 will engage the innermost track 31. It will be further noted that the cutters provided by the cutter unit 42 form a permanent assembly with the head unit 22. In actual production, the head member 29 is copper-plated and then chrome-plated. Each circular ring or track 31, 32 and 33 is independently lapped. Thereafter, the cutter unit 42 is assembled with the head and the cutters 48, 49 and 50 are lapped and honed with suitable compound to the respective circular rings or tracks 31, 32 and 33. Thus, the components are ground and precision-honed together for a perfect fit.

Because of the necessity of spacing each respective cutter 49, 5t) and 51 a different radial spacing dimension from the rotary axis, the problem of equalizing the pressure between the respective cutters and the adjoining circular ring is of particular importance. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the arm 46 of the cutter unit 42 is separated from the arm 47 by an angular spacing dimension shown in FIGURE 4 at 60. The arm 47 is angularly spaced from the arm 48 by an angular spacing dimension 61. The arm 48 is, in turn, angularly spaced from the arm 46 by an angular spacing dimension 62. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the angulation of the arms 46, 47 and 48 is such that the angles 60, 61 and 62 are proportionalized to afford a good three point contact with an equalized pressure between each respective cutter 49, 50 and 51, with each corresponding circular ring or track 33, 32, and 31.

Because the rotor or cutter unit 42 is rotating at fast angular speeds, the present invention also contemplates a particular means of effecting dynamic balance. Thus,

the cutter 49 is formed on the outer peripheral end of the arm 46. In order to control the dynamic balance of the cutter unit 42, however, the arm 47 is provided with a radial outward extension shown at 63 and the arm 48 is provided with a radial outward extension 64. The extension 63 and 64 are spaced radially outwardly of the respective cutters 5t) and 51. The actual spacing dimension of the extension 63 and the spacing dimension of the extension 64 is such that all of the arms 46, 47 and 48 of the cutter unit 42 will be dynamically balanced even when the cutter unit 42 is rotated at high speed.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a flexible cushion spring drive is provided to automatically couple the motor to the shaving head. Thus, as shown in the exploded view of FIGURE 6, the motor is provided with a power output shaft 66. In this form of the invention, the output shaft 66 is of a cylindrical configuration and may conveniently comprise a plastic material. A helically wound coil spring 67 is provided which is sized to be snugly received over the cylindrical end of the power take-off shaft 66. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 6, the take-off shaft 66 may have an inner portion 68 which is of somewhat larger diameter than a reduced portion 69 and between the different diameters there will be provided a radial shoulder 70. The spring 67 is simply pressed on the reduced portion 69 until the endmost convolution of the spring, shown at 71, bottoms against the radial shoulder 70.

At the opposite end of the spring 67, the helical windings are somewhat more loosely Wound as at 72 and the opposite end or endmost convolution terminates in an axially extending lug 73 formed by a reversely turned end portion 74.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the spring 67 extends outwardly of the boss 13 and the lug 73 extends axially upwardly into the head assembly 22 for engagement with any one of the arms 46, 47 or 48 of the cutter unit 42.

The preferred direction of rotation of the motor and hence of the power take-01f shaft 66 is such that the coil spring 67 will tend to wind tighter on the power take-off shaft 66, thereby locking the spring 67 for corotation with the shaft and engaging the lug 73 against the cutter unit 42 to efifect a flexible cushion spring drive which automatically couples the motor to the shaving head. There is thus insured a smooth, quiet and foolproof action, without the use of gears or other complicated parts.

The motor used in conjunction with the power take-01f shaft 66 is also of a novel construction. Generally, the motor, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, and which is identified at 12, is of the interrupter-type and has coils, shown at 76. An armature is journaled for rotation and is connected at one end to the power take-oil shaft 66. The armature is provided with a laminated core. When the core is energized, a magnetic bias will tend to align the armature with respect to the coils.

In accordance with the prior art, this type of motor is usually provided with a timing means comprising a set of breaker points mechanically actuated, for example, by a flat on the shaft of the armature. Thus, energization of the field is temporarily interrupted so the armature will rotate by inertia or momentum, whereupon the contacts continue to cycle open and closed, thereby establishing and collapsing the magnetic field so that the armat-ure will continue to rotate.

With a flat on the armature shaft, there will not only be a non-centrifugal center but the mechanical timing means consumes a considerable portion of the power delivered by the motor.

In accordance with the principles of the present in vention, a novel :form of commutator and brush arrangement is provided to control the timing interruptions. Thus, there is provided a first and a second brush holder shown generally at 77 and 7-8, respectively, and each holder carries a brush at 79 and 89.

The armature shaft is shown at 81 and has fastened thereto a commutator 82 having on its peripheral surface a circumferentially elongated solid segment 83 having an end portion 84 spaced from an end portion 86 and separated from one another by a segment 87. The segment 87 can be made of the same material as the circumferentially extended segment 83, for example, copper and to insure adequate insulation, a spacer 88 may be provided between each respective end 84 and 86 of the solid segment 83 and the short segment 87.

The commutator 82 provides a smooth surface for the brushes 79 and 86 to ride on. However, when both brushes 79 and are contacting the solid segment 83 which extends through more than 270 of are, then the field circuit is closed. However, when either one of the brushes '79 or 80 engages the smaller segment 87 an interruption occurs. The angular placement of the short segment 87, or" course, is such as to control the timing of the interruption. By virtue of such provision, a motor of the interrupter-type is provided which will have a longer life and which will be capable of delivering more power and greater speed since all of the resistance of a mechanical timer is eliminated without loss of function.

To start the shaver, a starting lever is provided as shown at 66 in FIGURE 1. It will be noted that the starting lever assumes a shape generally assoicated with a switch and it is normally biased in one direction so that actuation of the lever 94 in the opposite direction will promote one direction rotation of the motor.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shaver comprising a head having plural apertured concentric tracks, an integral one-piece cutter means having radially spaced arms corresponding in number to the plural tracks and a cutter offset from each respective arm to engage a corresponding adjoining track, said head having a center shaft receiving and journaling said cutter means, and continuous biasing means on said shaft engaging said cutter means to axially preload the cutters against the tracks.

2. A shaver as defined in claim 1, said head comprising a ring-shaped shell having a radially inwardly directed flange,

a sheet form head having a circumferentially extending lip formed at its outer peripheral edge and underlying said flange,

and a retainer ring pressed inside of said shell and abutting said head at said lip to retain the same in firm assembly with said shell,

said head being shaped to have a plurality of alternately spaced concentric circular rings and recesses,

said ring being slotted radially with said slots extending out over only the outside edge of each respective rings,

thereby to form a comb for guiding hairs into the rings.

3. A shaver as defined in claim 2, said concentric circular rings each being disposed on an inclined plane,

and said head having a dome-shaped contour.

4. A shaver as defined in claim 2, said head having a centrally disposed shaft forming a bearing means extending into the shell, and said cutter means being carried by the shaft for rotation in the shell.

5. A shaver as defined in claim 4, said arms being angularly separated with an angulation relative to the radial spacing dimensions of the cutters thereby equalizing the pressure between the head and each respective cutter.

6. A shaver as defined in claim 5, and dynamic balancing means on said cutter means comp-rising an integral extension of selected ones of said arms radially outwardly of the corresponding cutter.

7. A rotary shaver comprising head means having plural concentric rings formed therein each slotted to form a track and rotatable cutter means carried for rotation on said head means comprising a single cutter for each ring engageable with a corresponding track and a corresponding arm for each said cutter, each said arm being connected to a common hub, said arms and said single cutters being angularly separated in accordance with an angulation preset relative to the radial spacing dimensions of the cutters to equalize the pressure between the head means and each respective cutter.

8. A rotary shaver as defined in claim 7, and dynamic balancing means on said cutter means comprising an integral extension of selected ones of said arms radially outwardly of the corresponding cutter.

9. A shaver as defined in claim 1, selected ones of said arms having portions extending radially outwardly of the corresponding cutter, thereby to form an integral dynamic balancing means for the cutter.

10. A shaver as defined in claim 1, said shaver head comprising a ring-shaped shell having a radially inwardly directed flange, a sheet form head having an outer peripheral edge underlying said flange, a retainer ring inside of said shell and abutting said head to retain the same in firm assembly with said shell, said head being shaped to have a plurality of alternately spaced concentric circular rings and recesses forming said tracks, said rings being slotted radially with said slots extending out over only the outside edge of each respective ring, thereby to form a comb for guiding hairs into the rings and a power take-off shaft of cylindrical configuration, a spring helically coiled to a diameter snugly receiving said takeoff shaft in coaxial relation therewith, said spring having axially extending lug means on the free end thereof inwardly of said shell and radially outwardly of the spring axis, said cutter means being engaged by said lug means in driven relationship therewith.

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1. A SHAVER COMPRISING A HEAD HAVING PLURAL APERTURED CONCENTRIC TRACKS, AND INTEGRAL ONE-PIECE CUTTER MEANS HAVING RADIALLY SPACED ARMS CORRESPONDING IN NUMBER TO THE PLURAL TRACKS AND A CUTTER OFFSET FROM EACH RESPECTIVE ARM TO ENGAGE A CORRESPONDING ADJOINING TRACK, SAID HEAD HAVING A CENTER SHAFT RECEIVING A JOURNALING SAID CUTTER MEANS, AND CONTINUOUS BIASING MEANS ON SAID SHAFT ENGAGING SAID CUTTER MEANS TO AXIALLY PRELOAD THE CUTTERS AGAINST THE TRACKS. 